Ball-bearing.



E. S. SHIMER, BA LL BEARING.

APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 15. 1914.

@ Patented June 15, 1915.

sent attain onion.

ELMER S. SHIMEBJ, OF MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 SAMUEL J. SHTMERdo SONS, OF MILTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

BALL-BEARING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that T, ELMER S. SHIMER, citizenof the United States, residing at Milton, in the county ofNorthumberland and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Ball- Bearings, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improvement in ball bearings, and theobject is to provide means for spacing the balls an equal distanceapart, so that the balls are tight or selfsupporting, thereby preventingthe balls from creeping toward each other to such an extent that theinternal bearing would lose its position in relation to the otherbearing.

The invention relates to still other novel features of construction andcombinations of parts which will be hereinafter more fully described andpointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a view in elevation of theinvention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view; and Fig. 3is a detail view showing one of the balls with the spacer appliedthereto.

In the drawings 1 have shown a central or inner ball race member A andan external ball race member B, the member A being provided with anannular groove 1 on the periphery thereof, and the external member withan annular groove 2 formed on the inner surface. Received between thetwo members and in the grooves are balls 3, 8. In this particularinstance, eight balls are shown. The depths of the grooves are soarranged that when the balls are inserted therein, and spacedequidistant around the circular opening between the two members, theballs are tight or self-supporting. Now if the balls were allowed toremain, or should be used, in this condition, they would creep towardeach other to such an extent that the internal member would lose itsposition in relation to the other member, and in order to keep the ballsan equal distance apart, rings or spacing means A are applied to eachball. The rings 4: aremade from brass,

copper, or any other soft metal. The rings are open on one side, and areinserted around the balls after they have been placed between the twoball race members, and the open portion of the ring is closed bybringing the two ends together. This is accomplished by a tool whichwill cause the two ends of the ring to be brought together, so as toform a ring encircling the ball. The balls are free to rotate within therings, thereby relieving the friction and forming a support for theouter member upon the in ner member. The rings serve to keep the ballsin their relative position for proper Work.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that a very simple arrangement hasbeen provided for maintaining the balls an equal distance apart, whilethe rings which maintain the balls in a separated condition can beeasily applied to the balls after the balls have been placed inposition. A further advantage is in the small cost of manufacture ofthese rings, making the attachment a very inexpensive addition to theroller hearing.

I claim:

1. A ball bearing comprising two members having endless grooves, thewalls of which are uninterrupted, balls having a portion thereofextending into each of said grooves, and separate means independentlyfashioned around each ball for maintaining the balls in proper relation.

2. A ball bearing comprising two grooved members, the walls of thegrooves of said members being uninterrupted, balls inserted in thegrooves, and separate means independently surrounding each ball whichwhen applied thereto, preclude the dismemberment of the partsconstituting the bearing.

3. A ball-bearing comprising inner and outer grooved ball-race members,balls received in the grooves, and spacing means fashioned around eachball for maintaining the balls in proper relation, said spacing meansbeing tangential to the periphery of the innermost member.

4:. A ball-bearing comprising two grooved hers and at one point with theother mem- .ba1l-race members, balls received in the her. 1 grooves, andspacing means fashioned In testimony whereof I aifix my signature,around each ball for maintaining the balls in the presence of twowitnesses. in proper relation, said spacing means be- ELMER S. SHIMER.ing of less thickness than the space between the members and of a lengthto aflord contact at two points with one of the mem- Witnesses:

H. W. CHAMBERLIN, EDWIN PAUL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0.

